The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offence once again displayed its ability to put points on the board … for the opposition.

Barely five minutes into Saturday’s CFL game at Investors Group Field, Roughriders quarterback Zach Collaros completed a pass (honestly, he did!) to Kyran Moore, who erupted for a fumble.

Anthony Gaitor helped himself to the football and trotted 45 uncontested yards for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown as the Green and Whitewashed suffered a 31-0 defenestration at the hands of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Zach Collaros, shown Saturday after being sacked by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Craig Roh, endured a 31-0 loss at Investors Group Field.John Woods /
The Canadian Press

The final verdict, as unsightly as it was, actually flattered a Saskatchewan side that had surrendered all 31 points by halftime and, inexplicably, did not charter home immediately at that point.

At least the pilot would have demonstrated a command of the aerial game. The Roughriders, 16 games and just 22 touchdowns into the regular season, simply do not have a clue.

This is hardly a news flash. The alleged offence, such a liability all season, reached a nadir during Saturday’s Gaitor Bowl.

Collaros’ preferred target was Taylor Loffler, who happens to play safety for the Blue Bombers. Early in the second quarter, Loffler and wide receiver Shaq Evans had caught an equal number of Collaros’ passes (two).

The Roughriders’ offensive arsenal also included the patented one-yard pass on second-and-four and (cue trumpets) the five-yard throw when 10 yards were required to move the chains. Punt. Punt.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers crush a Saskatchewan Roughriders’ running back during the first half of CFL action in Winnipeg Saturday, October 13, 2018.John Woods /
THE CANADIAN PRESS

On a brighter note, neither of those passes was intercepted, so the cacophony of cheers should begin now.

Even after Saturday’s shebockalling, Saskatchewan is still situated in second place in the West Division, two points ahead of Winnipeg (9-7). A home playoff game remains a realistic possibility.

Perhaps, in time, Saturday’s slaughter will be written off as a bad day at the office. The Roughriders, remember, rebounded from adversity earlier this season. The cause seemed to be lost when they were 1-2 and 3-4, but now they have 10 victories and that should mean something.

Maybe, just maybe, Saturday’s letdown should have been as predictable as the Roughriders’ offence — which has now been held without a touchdown in one-quarter of the team’s games this season.

Winnipeg had the luxury of eight days between games after winning its third contest in succession.

The Roughriders eked out a hard-fought win on Thanksgiving Monday, rallying to defeat the visiting Edmonton Eskimos 19-12, and had to travel four days later — landing in a traditionally hostile environment.

Complicating matters, Saskatchewan was without its receptions leader (Jordan Williams-Lambert), in addition to star slotback Naaman Roosevelt (who on Saturday missed his third consecutive game).

The offence was already coughing up dust before the team arrived in Winnipeg, where the problems were exacerbated on Saturday.

Collaros, he of the $430,000 salary, looked like a $4.30 quarterback. One has to drill to the Earth’s core to find his quarterback-efficiency rating (8.4).

The receivers, that description being most generous, continued to look more like Joey Jauch than Joey Walters.

There are paratroopers with fewer drops than this board-handed bunch.

(Worth noting: Weston Dressler, who was discarded by Jones in 2016, made a spectacular touchdown catch for Winnipeg on Saturday.)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Darvin Adams (1) and Weston Dressler (7) celebrate Adams’ touchdown against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the first half of CFL action in Winnipeg Saturday, October 13, 2018.John Woods /
THE CANADIAN PRESS

The pass protection had more leaks than the White House.

The “coaching” was merely a rumour, as offensive co-ordinator Stephen McAdoo and associates were unable to find a way to beat the Bombers’ blitzes.

A lengthening injury toll did not help matters. Dariusz Bladek, the starting right guard, suffered what the Roughriders referred to as a “significant knee injury” during the second quarter.

The Roughriders think so highly of his backup, Josiah St. John, that they acquired Philip Blake from the Montreal Alouettes on Wednesday and immediately installed him as the starting left guard. After Bladek went down, St. John entered the game at right guard.

Right Guard should be a Roughriders sponsor after Saturday’s stinker.

Protection issues created persistent problems for Collaros, who has yet to demonstrate the mobility that made him such a factor with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Even so, Jones deployed Collaros on the first series after halftime, giving him the hook only after a trademark two-and-out.

Jones was much more amenable to replacing his starter in favour of Brandon Bridge last year, when Kevin Glenn threw 25 of the team’s league-high 35 touchdown passes.

And now, with an offence that provides viewers with every incentive to count down the days until the televised yule log makes its 2018 debut, the coaches’ confidence in Bridge has eroded to Saturday’s magic number — zero.

(We interrupt this column for a text message from Lauren Dattilo of Vancouver: “I forgot to record the game. Thank you, universe.” Onwards …)

The most troubling part is: This is still a very good football team — one that sports the CFL’s second-best record.

But it is also saddled with the second-worst offence, in terms of touchdowns scored, and that could prove to be a fatal flaw.

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